I.m not that old. !!!

DH once received a copy hospital letter that began "Thank you for referring this charming gentleman who was mobile without a stick....." DH was 64 at the time, is extremely well preserved and active and was most insulted especially as the referral was nothing to do with his mobility which would have made the comment relevant. I told him not to worry but to hang on to the "charming" which of course he is!

Yes, our senior nurse practioner kept saying that in a consultation I had with her on a minor medical problem.

Some how, it undermined my confidence in her capability, even though I know it shouldn't, especially in her case where I know she is very capable.

That is not even unconsious bias, but very conscious bias!!

Farzanah

IMO Doctors should not be describing patients as pleasant, or unpleasant, but stick to the medical diagnosis or opinion. I thought judging people in such a way had disappeared along with coded rude descriptions such as FLK as I’ve seen written in the past.

I had to look that up.

I might be a GOW soon.

A GP once said "Oh bless" to me when I said I was in pain.
🤬

IMO Doctors should not be describing patients as pleasant, or unpleasant, but stick to the medical diagnosis or opinion. I thought judging people in such a way had disappeared along with coded rude descriptions such as FLK as I’ve seen written in the past.

Lexisgran I knoe exactly what you mean about 'Oh bless'. I first heard it in the mid-1990, when I was looking for some pretty underwear for my mother, aged about 80, who was always beautifully dressed from the skin outward, and my toes curled, but over the last couple of years I have heard it used more and more widely by all kinds of people in all kinds of situations.

Person A: 'The traffic was terrible today' Person B: 'Oh bless' I do not think people now even think what it means, it is just an all purpose meaningless phrase that means little more than 'I have heard what you said'

After having a chat with someone I hadn’t seen for some time she said’Well lovely to see you. Why don’t you come along to the Senior Citizens club on a Friday ?”
I was rather nonplussed as I have never yet considered myself old enough for that. I will be 70 in July 😄

I was described as a lovely elderly lady, very fit for her age, by one consultant, he was Italian. Kept the letter.

I had a be admitted to hospital when my chemo made me really ill. I had to be separate from other patients as my immune system was compromised. I was put on a care of the elderly ward in a cubicle as it was the only bed that was suitable. I’m 63! All the staff said they never usually had patients under 80.

Before my last operation the consultant sent a letter to the GP describing me as "this pleasant, well read lady" I had a good laugh because I read it as "mind what you say because she worked in the profession" 😆

A recent letter from the consultant to the GP merely declwcribed me a a pleasant lady, what should I have done to have earned the description very pleasant I wonder ,,(phone consultant by the way)

"Geriatric" is no more a pejorative term than "paediatric". It's simply medical terminology for those of us over a certain age, although that age might be a matter for more precise definition. I have no doubt that whatever that age is, I am now past it,

I have noticed a tendency lately for tv presenters to say “0h bless” or similar to anyone over 80. This really sets my teeth on edge. My body may be 80+ but in my head I am still in my 20s.

Age is a state of mind, I know several ladies who always seem much younger than their biological age, but equally many who seemed ‘old’ in their thirties!

Witzend

I was described in my notes as an ‘elderly’ primigravida when having my first baby at 28!

This made me smile, me too at 27, with baby number one. Goodness only knows what I was considered when babies 2, 3 & 4 arrived at 39, 42, & 44!!

grannybuy

A doctor who worked in geriatric medicine told me that at the facility in which he worked, the staff used the terms, ‘ off their feet ‘, ‘ off their head ‘, - or both!

And, of course, that will be them one day!

A doctor who worked in geriatric medicine told me that at the facility in which he worked, the staff used the terms, ‘ off their feet ‘, ‘ off their head ‘, - or both!

Gwenisgreat

Though I turn 80 this year, I would be upset at being called geriatric! Yea, my body is slowing down, yea, I am forgetful - does that make me an old lady?

Body slowing down - can happen at any age. Becoming forgetful - can happen at any age. Being 80 years of age - makes you an old/older lady. Sorry about that.

Tomorrow I'll be 68. I'm very thankful that I still have my health, fitness and interest in life. Becoming 68 won't change a thing about me except that my body and brain are getting older and sooner or later are going to show signs of wear and tear. But two of my brothers died in their thirties. My cousin died at 52. Another brother is unlikely to see 65. Two of my close friends died in their sixties. So doctors can call me geriatric, senior, old, whatever they like, as I age. I'm just grateful I'm alive to hear it.

I do find medical letters containing judgemental remarks a bit off, even if they are positive things like "very pleasant lady". What possible reference can it have to a medical condition? And why does the consultant get to make the judgement? I dont usually get stroppy about such things, but it grates on me and seems condescending. I assume its some hang over from the days when doctors were upper class and so they got to pass judgement. Am I being a bit prickly about this?

LucyAnna

Cabbie21

I was really pleased when I read a consultant’s letter to my GP described me as a “ very pleasant lady”, with no mention of the word ‘ elderly’, though of course my date of birth was somewhere in the letter.
This was following a fracture. When I was asked by the clinician ‘“Would you say you are active?”, I replied,” Yes, but it’s all relative”, meaning I lead a normal sort of life without restrictions, as long as it is at my own pace. I don’t go to the gym or do anything other than short walks and housework to keep physically active, but am very active mentally and in the community.
She ticked the box for Active. Surprised but pleased.
Not everyone downgrades us.

I had a consultants letter to my GP a couple of years ago describing me as a “very pleasant lady” - I wondered if it was medical staff code for…..?

My ENT consultant always says the same in his follow up letters to the GP. I think they all use it because they know we have sight of the letter! (or perhaps is just means that we didn't behave like hooligans).

When my grandmother had to have an operation she was very cross because they put her in a geriatric ward "full of old people" She was 91 at the time!

I am 80 this year but still think like a teenager! The ravages of time affect all of us in different degrees. On a recent visit to a clinic the Doctor commented that I was good for 79!

I care for two cats, a wife twelve years my junior and a brother-in-law 22 years younger than me. We all have different conditions due to genetics and life style.

Woukdnt wear double denim of course ….

I am 75 still wear jeans and recently bought a denim jacket….which my dd tells me looks great. Don’t spend a lot on clothes am short and overweight but still take an interest in fashion and style. I may be old in years but not ready for crimpoline - though don’t object to the stretch in my jeans.

Baggs
That’s the name of the game as they say grow old disgracefully 😄

When (if) I turn 80 I will definitely be an old woman. Not sure I'll be an old "lady" 😊

I was told that as I was over 75 I had to be given an x ray on my foot, just as well as it was broken!
I suppose it is nicer to be pleasant than a lot of other things!